Members of Congress urge US bishops to intervene in Iraq War

Fourteen Catholic members of Congress released a letter on Tuesday, calling on the country’s Catholic bishops to help end the war in Iraq. The letter urges the bishops to "mobilize Catholic opinion on this, one of the most critical issues of our time."

"If we understand the Catholic tradition correctly," the members of Congress wrote, "thoughtful Church leaders around the world do not believe that the war in Iraq meets the strict conditions for a just war or the high moral standards for overriding the presumption against the use of force. We agree and seek an end to this injustice."

The members asked to meet with key Catholic officials. They reminded the bishops that "throughout our nation's history, Catholics have been at the forefront of the fight for social justice.”

"As Catholic members of Congress, we stand in unison with the Catholic Church in opposition to the war in Iraq," said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in a statement. "Yet to attain the ideal of peace, we must not only speak the words, we must take action."

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, director of the USCCB media relations office, confirmed with the Hartford Courant that the bishops’ conference received the letter.

"The bishops have voiced concern for the conflict in Iraq repeatedly since the war began and have repeatedly called for a responsible transition," she noted.